Pistons-Spurs 5 Days Later

[FreshPrince22]

The last championship; Utah swept Chicago in the regular season.

As defending champs, the Lakers lost the season series and HCA to the Spurs a couple of times, then destroyed them in the playoffs.

SA beat Houston 5 of 6 times in '95, finished the season 13 GAMES UP on them - then got schooled by the defending champs.

Then in '96, Spurs won the division only to get DISMANTLED and embarrassed in a series of blowouts to the Jazz.

Also, it is VERY unlikely that the finals will go seven - making HCA irrelevent. Before last season, can anybody remember one going that long?

It has been since 1990 since SA played ANY series which went 7.

ONLY championships are remembered - regular season is completely irrelevent. You people have very short memories, or are very young.

Let's review WHY the Spurs will win the championship this year against Detroit:

1. Spurs won last year.

Since then:

Spurs added Michael Finley (he's better than a hurt Devin Brown, or any Glenn Robinson)

Spurs added Nick Van Exel (he's better than a rookie Beno Udrih)

Most importantly, and somewhat unexpectedly Tony Parker improved ALOT (I guess since he is still very young, a time when point guards typically make great strides)

Detroit added no significant new players.

Billups has improved his regular season play, making it on par with his playoff performances for the last couple of years (which is the player the Spurs faced, anyway)

Detroit lost a coach with a championship pedigree, and one who is considered one of the top in the league.

Detroit added a coach who has won EXACTLY TWO playoff series in his entire career.

All i need to say in response.... Detroit was 7 points shy of San Antonio last year (where it DID go to 7, and HCA ended up deciding the series), that should tell you how even the teams are. Detroit has gotten a lot better this year. San Antonio has not proven that they have gotten better (or stayed the same for that matter).

You can say all you want about "we've added this and that, and they have a ty coach", but I prefer to look at what happens on the court. And clearly, Detroit is a better team this year than they were last year. I'm not going to say the Spurs can't be as good or better than they were last year, but I have yet to see it.

And don't give me the "Finley and Van Exel" crap. 2 very overrated additions. Neither fit the Spurs mold. Meanwhile, we quietly added players who do fit the Pistons. And Flip at 30-5 is making LB look pretty silly right about now. Comparing the T-Wolves to the Pistons is just idiotic as well. Total polar opposite teams.

[101A]

Actually it was 69ppg

I don't think anyone can say it was a fluke though like it seems you're implying. The same EXACT thing happend both times. Finley didn't score in either game. Duncan didn't get off like he usually does. The Pistons won by 15 both times. The Pistons held the Spurs to 68 and 70 (both easily their lowest point totals this year). And finally, the Pistons out rebounded them by 20+ in both games.

You're right.

The Pistons are 15 points better than the next best team in the league, with the same squad as last year, and that other team improved. 4-4-4-4, write it down, book it; this season is OVER - unless of course the Jazz can make the finals, because they are obviously superior to the Pistons. Same thing happened in both games, right?

It couldn't possibly be that the Spurs are about as concerned about a game in January against the Pistons as the Pistons are about a game against the Jazz, right?

[101A]

All i need to say in response.... Detroit was 7 points shy of San Antonio last year (where it DID go to 7, and HCA ended up deciding the series). Detroit has gotten a lot better this year. San Antonio has not proven that they have gotten better (or stayed the same for that matter).

You can say all you want about "we've added this and that, and they have a ty coach", but I prefer to look at what happens on the court. And clearly, Detroit is a better team this year than they were last year. I'm not going to say the Spurs can't be as good or better than they were last year, but I have yet to see it.

Detroit is not better this year - they are playing like they did when they took the Spurs to 7.

The Spurs are actually playing very similar ball to what they were last year AT THIS TIME. In June, I expect, and have every reason to believe, they will be better than they were in June of last year.

[smeagol]

Something needs to change between now and June. There was no sense of urgency. The Spurs were utterly dominated on the glass. With Horry as your primary big backup your bigman rotation is already going to be on the slight side. When Nesterovic is your starting center with his 4 rebound per game average and his 0.2 trips to the line per game average, you are going to be ed. There is a reason the Spurs were ready to give him away for the stinky rotting corpse of Tariq Abdul-Wahad's career back in the summer.

This team is abyssmal when it comes to championship level play. One can only hope they are floating and can hit a switch come April. History has shown that is not a prudent strategy.

Last year in January the Spurs record was the same as this year’s.

The only difference between the starting five that won the championship and the current starting five is Rasho for Nazr (a switch Pop can make any day now). Plus we have added Finley and Van X and let go an injured Devin Brown.

So where is the problem? These are the same guys that won the championship last year plus some additions/upgrades.

People need to chill. We are going to repeat.

[TwoHandJam]

If Detroit can play as horribly as they did to start the season last year and still get to a game 7 in the finals, then I think we have no reason to panic just yet.

We need to make adjustments to our frontcourt to be sure but I trust that Pop already knows this after our two encounters.

[FreshPrince22]

You're right.

The Pistons are 15 points better than the next best team in the league, with the same squad as last year, and that other team improved. 4-4-4-4, write it down, book it; this season is OVER - unless of course the Jazz can make the finals, because they are obviously superior to the Pistons. Same thing happened in both games, right?

It couldn't possibly be that the Spurs are about as concerned about a game in January against the Pistons as the Pistons are about a game against the Jazz, right?

"That other team improved".... In what??? Hype? Congrats, you're the Heat. Give me some substance to go along with your paper championship.

As for the Jazz... I will be the first to say they have our number. But losing to a team we see twice a year is one thing. They aren't contenders, and we will never see them again this year. Getting blown out TWICE by the team with the best record in the league, that took you to a game 7 the previous year is a totally different one. Now don't confuse this with me "Calling a championship" over a couple regular season wins, because I'm not. I'm not stupid. The Spurs WILL get better. But I have seen these big "improvements" that everyone was so hyped up about in the offseason. In fact, most Spurs fans don't like Fin and NVE (See the multiple "Fin and NVE suck" threads). They take bad shots, and don't play defense. Devin Brown (conveniently a member of the Jazz this year) gives us a lot more problems than Finley does (a career 22% shooter against tayshaun as a starter). And sorry, but Nick is not the player he was 5 years ago. His shot selection is still hideous though.

Needless to say, the championship is still very much up in the air, but based on how the Pistons are playing, I like our chances.

[FreshPrince22]

Detroit is not better this year - they are playing like they did when they took the Spurs to 7.

The Spurs are actually playing very similar ball to what they were last year AT THIS TIME. In June, I expect, and have every reason to believe, they will be better than they were in June of last year.

Not better??? That's just wishful thinking. The Pistons have the most effecient offense in the ENTIRE league by over 2 points per 100 possessions. Yes, better than Phoenix, Dallas, etc. It's not even close. Yes, this was one of the worst offensive teams in the league the last 2 years. And as your Spurs know, they still know how to play D and rebound the ball. Scary thing is, they will only get better as the year goes on. Flip only has 50% of the playbook implimented, and the defense never clicks untill feb-march.

[nkdlunch]

The only real concern is TD injury. That we gonna turn it on sometime after All-Star is for sure. So no worries about that. We haven't even played anywhere close to our full potential and we have the 2nd best record in the NBA.

[101A]

"That other team improved".... In what??? Hype? Congrats, you're the Heat. Give me some substance to go along with your paper championship.

As for the Jazz... I will be the first to say they have our number. But losing to a team we see twice a year is one thing. They aren't contenders, and we will never see them again this year. Getting blown out TWICE by the team with the best record in the league, that took you to a game 7 the previous year is a totally different one. Now don't confuse this with me "Calling a championship" over a couple regular season wins, because I'm not. I'm not stupid. The Spurs WILL get better. But I have seen these big "improvements" that everyone was so hyped up about in the offseason. In fact, most Spurs fans don't like Fin and NVE (See the multiple "Fin and NVE suck" threads). They take bad shots, and don't play defense. Devin Brown (conveniently a member of the Jazz this year) gives us a lot more problems than Finley does (a career 22% shooter against tayshaun as a starter). And sorry, but Nick is not the player he was 5 years ago. His shot selection is still hideous though.

Needless to say, the championship is still very much up in the air, but based on how the Pistons are playing, I like our chances.

Devin Brown was hurt during the finals last year, Finley certainly brings more to the table than he did, and Fin is also averaging more pts. than ANY backup 2 the Spurs have had since Manu in '04; when Hedo didn't do jack. THe combo at the 2 is quite formidable, and those people who are disappointed with Finley to this point are the same one pouring grape kool-aid. BTW - Fin won't start - Prince can't play ALL the minutes defending Manu and Michael, can he?

If Nick was the player he was 5 years ago, the Spurs wouldn't be paying him the veterans minimum - he is however, much better than last years Beno, and he WILL hit a couple of big shots in the playoffs, his is Nick Van Exel, after all.

To get an idea of what this team DOES take seriously, look at there record against the West, they seem to focus more for those games. They just took a home/home against a solid compe or without breaking a sweat.

I expect them to finish the season, after having rested Tim & Manu on and off for the last couple of weeks of the season, tied with the Mavs in the West, holding the tie-breaker (any more than that would be a waste of energy which will be needed in the playoffs).

If you're looking for evidense of what this team will be like in June ON THE COURT, look at game 7 of the finals last season - it was only a few months ago, after all. That championship AIN'T paper.

Also, I have much more experience watching Flip as a coach in the playoffs than you do. I don't like your chances.

[101A]

The Pistons have the most effecient offense in the ENTIRE league by over 2 points per 100 possessions.

Detroit now has an offensive minded coach.

Yes, better than Phoenix, Dallas, etc. It's not even close.

Detroit has an offensive minded coach.

and the defense never clicks untill feb-march.

under LB, but now: Detroit has an offensive minded coach.

But

Defense wins championships.

[polandprzem]

The last championship; Utah swept Chicago in the regular season.

As defending champs, the Lakers lost the season series and HCA to the Spurs a couple of times, then destroyed them in the playoffs.

SA beat Houston 5 of 6 times in '95, finished the season 13 GAMES UP on them - then got schooled by the defending champs.

Then in '96, Spurs won the division only to get DISMANTLED and embarrassed in a series of blowouts to the Jazz.

Also, it is VERY unlikely that the finals will go seven - making HCA irrelevent. Before last season, can anybody remember one going that long?

It has been since 1990 since SA played ANY series which went 7.

ONLY championships are remembered - regular season is completely irrelevent. You people have very short memories, or are very young.

Let's review WHY the Spurs will win the championship this year against Detroit:

1. Spurs won last year.

Since then:

Spurs added Michael Finley (he's better than a hurt Devin Brown, or any Glenn Robinson)

Spurs added Nick Van Exel (he's better than a rookie Beno Udrih)

Most importantly, and somewhat unexpectedly Tony Parker improved ALOT (I guess since he is still very young, a time when point guards typically make great strides)

Detroit added no significant new players.

Billups has improved his regular season play, making it on par with his playoff performances for the last couple of years (which is the player the Spurs faced, anyway)

Detroit lost a coach with a championship pedigree, and one who is considered one of the top in the league.

Detroit added a coach who has won EXACTLY TWO playoff series in his entire career.

You think I don't know that?
You think I don't know the hostory of the game?
You are wrong.

Now it's all about "ifs"

Can they play up to their potential?
Is Michael gonna be effective vs. the Pistons.
Is Barry gonna have that bech impact?
Is Tim Duncan gonna be okay?
Is Nazr gonna rotate?
Is Rasho gonna dunk?
Is Eve gonna be with Tony?

All that matter.
And all I know - Detroit can do it , and I know they are strong. I do not know if the spurs are(?) Are they gonna be tough enough?

Damn - too many question marks.
What about Sean Marks?

[FreshPrince22]

Billups has improved his regular season play, making it on par with his playoff performances for the last couple of years (which is the player the Spurs faced, anyway)

Forgot to reply to this individually before. Since when in the playoffs or EVER has Chauncey averaged almost 9 assists per game? I'll give you a hint, his previous career high was 5.8apg, and he averages 5.6apg in the playoffs. He has the freedom to make plays when he sees them now.

Here's a stat for you.. Through 35 games, Chauncey has reached 10+ assists 14 times. In the 3 years before (232 games) he had 10+ assists 12 times total.

Again, saying he isn't better is just wishful thinking.

[1Parker1]

Actually it was 69ppg

I don't think anyone can say it was a fluke though like it seems you're implying. The same EXACT thing happend both times. Finley didn't score in either game (Career 22% shooter against Tayshaun as a starter). Duncan didn't go off like he usually does. The Pistons won by 15 both times. The Pistons held the Spurs to 68 and 70 (both easily their lowest point totals this year). And finally, the Pistons out rebounded them by 20+ in both games.

I'm not trying to imply it was a fluke, I'm trying to imply that Spurs have a lot of room for improvement, and hopefully when the postseason comes around, those three aspects (well maybe except the whole Rasho improvement thing) should get better. Bottom line is, if the Spurs big 3 hit more of their shots (which I expect them to do in the postseason), Bruce continues to do his thing, and Horry comes in and gives us a solid performance, and we have at least maybe 1 "X-Factor" in the game, be it Finley, NVE, Nazr, or Barry...Spurs should be in good shape against the Pistons.


Because of the lopsided Pistons victory both games, people are forgetting the Spurs did an excellent job defensively on the Pistons also...holding them below their season average in points and FG%.

Obviously those 2 games showed the Spurs have a long way to go to catch up to the Pistons, but like I've been saying. These two teams are so evenly matched, that if they do meet in the Finals, it's going to be a close one and will likely come down to one player on either team making a series changing shot in a game (i.e Horry Game 5 last year).

[101A]

Forgot to reply to this individually before. Since when in the playoffs or EVER has Chauncey averaged almost 9 assists per game? I'll give you a hint, his previous career high was 5.8apg, and he averages 5.6apg in the playoffs. He has the freedom to make plays when he sees them now.

Here's a stat for you.. Through 35 games, Chauncey has reached 10+ assists 14 times. In the 3 years before (232 games) he had 10+ assists 12 times total.

Again, saying he isn't better is just wishful thinking.

He isn't better - he's playing in a different system which gets him more assists.

Tony is playing in the same system, and ALL his numbers are up - he's better.

Heres a stat for you. In 1999 Flip Saunder's coached team stole HCA from San Antonio by winning at the Alamodome in game 2 of their series. They then lost 2 straight at home and the Spurs advanced to the championship!

[FreshPrince22]

If you're looking for evidense of what this team will be like in June ON THE COURT, look at game 7 of the finals last season - it was only a few months ago, after all. That championship AIN'T paper.

Trust me, I'm not banking on the current Spurs team to be the team we face in the Finals if both teams get there. If it's the team that was there last year, I like our chances. Especially if that game 7 is held on the Palace floor. And even moreso if the Pistons don't come off a grueling 7 game series to face a rested Spurs team.

It's funny that you mention our new coach after you mentioned game 7. Our old coach's in-game coaching abilities and strategy single handidly cost us that game (and the le) when he decided to put Tayshaun Prince on Tim Duncan when both Dice and Sheed still had 4 fouls to give between them. You know what followed. Tim goes off on stick-boy, and the game is all Spurs. Real coaching genius, LB. I shouldn't have to remind you that untill the Pistons won him one, Larry didn't have any rings on his fingers. And Pop only had 1 playoff series win before the Spurs first le season. Writing Flip of isn't a smart move. Every coach has a first championship. No coach came out of the womb with a ring on their finger.

[FreshPrince22]

Heres a stat for you. In 1999 Flip Saunder's coached team stole HCA from San Antonio by winning at the Alamodome in game 2 of their series. They then lost 2 straight at home and the Spurs advanced to the championship!

Here's a few stats for you... Pistons aren't the Wolves. Pistons aren't a one man show. Pistons play D. Pistons are a proven championship team.

As for Chauncey... You clearly are clueless. Chauncey my be the same player he was last year, but if that's the case, then Larry CLEARLY was holding him back. He is doing things he NEVER did in the past. He is actually playmaking. He used to get assists solely on Rip's curl shots. That is not the case anymore.

[101A]

And Pop only had 1 playoff series win before the Spurs first le season. Writing Flip of isn't a smart move. Every coach has a first championship. No coach came out of the womb with a ring on their finger.

Pop had only been in a single playoff before he won a championship - not from the womb, but pretty close, since then, with Tim, only Phil Jackson has eliminated him.

I guess I don't understand why Detroit is so hung up on HCA this year; they obviously weren't last season, but still made the finals, despite playing game 7 on the other guys court - and Detroit, in fact, lost a game at home to the Spurs. All the Piston's posters on this board talked and talked about how it didn't matter, etc. Now it's the freaking holy grail (and not just to Detroit fan, plenty of Spurs fans are hung up on it now).

My entire point is, none of what you have seen in the season means anything. The Spurs are sleepwalking, not expending excess energy, preparing to peak when the playoffs start - they want to win their division, simply because not doing so gives you a 4 seed with the new structure.

Also, this is never mentioned, but I think Pop has a REAL long-term plan in mind. This is not some veteran, put together to go after a single ring type squad. The big three are all in their prime together, looking to go back to back as long as possible - and 2 of them are playing international ball this summer; They have to be concerned about next season, and the one after that RIGHT NOW, because there won't be any stoppage of basketball between now and then. The NBA regular season might be the most relaxing time for those guys for the forseeable future.

Has anybody made note that when Dallas is 1 loss behind the Spurs, the Spurs are undefeated? Or that when Dallas falls 2 behind, the Spurs lose soon thereafter? (the last Detroit game came 1 night after a Dallas loss).

They have lost twice as many games against the East than against the West - it means they are looking at their conference standings, trying to lock up tie-breakers. , they just took care of business w/a home/home against a solid opponent w/o breaking a sweat.

The signs are there if you are looking, this Spur's team turns it on when it wants to

[Melmart1]

It cracks me up to read these threads where Spurs fans are stategizing about what to do WHEN the Spurs meet the Pistons in the NBA Finals.

First, it is stupid to re-tool your entire roster for one team, particularly a team you only meet twice in the regular season. Because, and this is the main point of my post- THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES WE WILL MEET DETROIT IN THE FINALS.

So you stack your roster so that you have a light-footed center to deal with Ben Wallace and the Pistons front court. Great. BUT, what if you meet Shaq in the finals? Yes, this is possible. Sure, Miami is not nearly as good, but since when has that mattered? All it takes is one injury, and the finals that everyone is pre-predicting is gone. So basically, if we don't meet the Pistons in the Finals, then you made trades so that you could try to win two regular season games? Sounds kinda dumb to me.

[FreshPrince22]

I guess I don't understand why Detroit is so hung up on HCA this year; they obviously weren't last season, but still made the finals, despite playing game 7 on the other guys court - and Detroit, in fact, lost a game at home to the Spurs. All the Piston's posters on this board talked and talked about how it didn't matter, etc. Now it's the freaking holy grail (and not just to Detroit fan, plenty of Spurs fans are hung up on it now).

hmmm, let me think... Probably because it decided the le last year. They "didn't care" much last year like the Spurs "don't care", and it bite them in the ass last year.

Has anybody made note that when Dallas is 1 loss behind the Spurs, the Spurs are undefeated? Or that when Dallas falls 2 behind, the Spurs lose soon thereafter? (the last Detroit game came 1 night after a Dallas loss).

So now you're trying to tell me they let Detroit blow them out on their own court just because Dallas lost the night before? You were bad before, but you're really reaching for it here. Searching for any excuse you can find.

They have lost twice as many games against the East than against the West - it means they are looking at their conference standings, trying to lock up tie-breakers. , they just took care of business w/a home/home against a solid opponent w/o breaking a sweat.

They haven't been a great road team this year. That is a fact. As for your reference to the Memphis games. I'd say plenty of people were sweating when Pau walked into the lane for a dunk to give the Grizz a lead with only a few seconds left. Don't make it sound like it was some cheap and easy wins. It took a bad defensive lapse from Pau to win that game against a team without their PG. And the second game was

The signs are there if you are looking, this Spur's team turns it on when it wants to

So, by your estimation they must not have "wanted" either game against the Pistons, correct? The obviously don't mind getting embarrassed twice in as many weeks by their biggest threat in the league, right?

[Rummpd]

Detroit is clearly the better team and at least in these two games by far - but the overall difference is probably exaggerated IF AND ONLY IF? the Spurs are hungry enough and healthier than they were at least in the Christmas game.

Don't forget again (albeit at home) Detroit rolled the Spurs 2 straight in the finals last year and then the Spurs found a way to win 2/3.


The key difference so far has been rebounding and remember that Duncan 14PPG ALMOST out rebounded BOTH Wallaces (about 16 RBG) in last years finals. (Mainly due to R. Wallace not being as effective as this year).

If we see the best of a near healthy Duncan on both sides of the ball this series could be short one in the Spurs favor - yet again will he be able to raise his game, against Rasheed especially?

On the positve side, one cannot also dismiss the fact that arguebly their 2nd best player Manu did not start either game. Also, as Pop said it was as much the Spurs missing their shots as the Pistons impressive defense.

Also, in the last game Pop did some strange things like leave Bowen off the floor, keep Nazr off almost the entire night. Even when the Spurs made runs to get within 6-10 points their best players were never seemingly left on the floor as a group at any time.



Detroit is granted scary good, especially if Rasheed continues to step up both offensvely and defensively esp on Duncan but will he?

On the Spurs side, Horry again has to step up (not only in threes but in rebounding and the defense he can bring - when motivated he defends as well as anyone) and the Spurs need something out of Nazr, most likely in a reserve role this year. Finley has to contribute some clutch shooting as well which honestly is a variable with his playoff history.

Finally, Parker has to bring it the whole game and the whole series this year for the Spurs to even make the finals and then win. I am tired of seeing him in the playoffs or in the first game against Detroit, score at will and then back off Keep driving even if the lanes are closed and dish.

If Parker has as good or nearly as good as a series as Billups - it will be very tough to beat the Spurs and he he is fully capable of doing so for all of Billups brillance this year.

[leemajors]

i don't think you can compare the success of lb vs flip. lb has 2 rings, albeit one collegiate. i understand he didn't have that pistons ring until 04, but i don't think lb single handedly cost the pistons the le with his coaching moves. you could just as easily blame it all on sheed for leaving horry. i don't think anyone is writing flip off, but it's just hard to believe he won't make some boneheaded coaching moves himself that may end up costing the pistons.

[GoSpurs21]

It's much easier for the losing coach to take out their players early than it is for the winning coach to do so. The losing coach has nothing to lose in that situation. As the Spurs learned last year (13 points in 35 seconds), anything can happen. If it was a 20 point lead the starters would have been on the bench, but it was hovering between 11 and 15. Also, our bench went to check in with a couple minutes left, but they never got a whistle.

As for the comment I've responded to 1000 times (starters being burned out)... It's just not realistic. They're playing less minutes than last year. The Pistons leader in minutes only plays about a minute and a half more than the Spurs leader in minutes. The difference is, our leader is the energizer bunny (Rip), yours is a 29 year old big man with an injury. Just because our 5th starter plays more than the Spurs' doesn't mean he's going to be more fatigued than a player on the Spurs who plays more. Plenty of players in the league play more than any of the Pistons starters.

The fatigue comment really isn't logical when you think about. No one player plays an absurd amount of minutes. None are even in the top 30 in minutes per game.

biggest load of . guess what numb nuts, your starters have played over a 100 games the last two seasons, they are being played enough minutes to be burnt out by the time the playoffs are here. Age has a little to due with it, but there is no way you can say that playing that much has no effect.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Hasn't the minutes thing been blown to shreds enough times?

[nkdlunch]

I don't know why people keep trying to find flaws in Detroit. They are a rock solid team. The only way we gonna beat them is playing the same as last finals + good help from Finley and Vanx. simple.

[101A]

hmmm, let me think... Probably because it decided the le last year. They "didn't care" much last year like the Spurs "don't care", and it bite them in the ass last year.

HCA didn't decide the le last year. The Spurs beat the Pistons, AND won the last game played in Detroit. If Detroit could have won the last game played in SA, they would be champs.

So now you're trying to tell me they let Detroit blow them out on their own court just because Dallas lost the night before? You were bad before, but you're really reaching for it here. Searching for any excuse you can find.

I'm saying the Spurs don't give that much of a crap, and don't have as a goal, at all, beating Detroit - or any one Eastern conference team.

They haven't been a great road team this year. That is a fact. As for your reference to the Memphis games. I'd say plenty of people were sweating when Pau walked into the lane for a dunk to give the Grizz a lead with only a few seconds left. Don't make it sound like it was some cheap and easy wins. It took a bad defensive lapse from Pau to win that game against a team without their PG. And the second game was

Manu made a great pass; Pop drew up the play. Next game in Memphis, Spurs didn't let it be that close. Spurs weren't a good road team in the regular season last year, either. They won road games in each round of the playoffs, however.

So, by your estimation they must not have "wanted" either game against the Pistons, correct? The obviously don't mind getting embarrassed twice in as many weeks by their biggest threat in the league, right?

No, I honestly don't think they care about getting "embarassed". They are the champs and have the rings. Scoreboard.